Australian Open: Ivanovic, Roddick make winning starts

March 30th, 2009 MIAMI - Roger Federer polished his mighty game at the expense of Nicolas Kiefer as he hammered the German 6-4, 6-1 to storm into the third round of Miami Masters tennis. The Swiss second seed and two-time winner at Crandon Park spent little more than an hour to rout the German on a cloudy, muggy Sunday afternoon.

March 21st, 2009 INDIAN WELLS - World No.1 Rafael Nadal of Spain will aim for a third straight victory over Andy Roddick in a semi-final clash at the Indian Wells Masters. Both seeds whipped through quarter-final challenges in straight sets, with 2007 champion Nadal overwhelming Juan Del Potro 6-2, 6-4 as the Argentine took treatment on a wrist in the opening set.

March 21st, 2009 INDIAN WELLS - Rafael Nadal will aim for a third straight victory over Andy Roddick when the top seed and the on-form American square off in the semi-final at the Indian Wells Masters. Both seeds whipped through quarter-final challenges in straight sets, with 2007 champion Nadal overwhelming Juan Del Potro 6-2, 6-4 as the Argentine took treatment on a wrist in the opening set.

January 29th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Former tennis great Patrick Rafter has voiced his doubts about the desire of deposed Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic after the Serb's retirement during his quarter-final with Andy Roddick. During a television match commentary, the double US Open champion and one of the most popular of the former Aussie players, had his say about the increasingly controversial Djokovic.

January 28th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Tennis great Rod Laver has backed Swiss Roger Federer to win the Australian Open and equal Pete Sampras's 14 Grand Slam titles. Laver was convinced that Federer will win his fourth Melbourne Park title after his epic five-setter against the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych.

January 26th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian tennis great Todd Woodbridge has taken a strong stance on defending champion Novak Djokovic's decision to pull out from the quarter-final match against Andy Roddick because of cramps. After watching Djokovic struggle against Roddick in the heat, Woodbridge said: 'I felt that he was under-prepared.' 'Although he was in Australia early enough, perhaps too much of the time was spent on the golf course rather than the practice courts.' 'Djokovic's decision to withdraw was a blow to the tournament.

January 25th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Serbian Ana Ivanovic, who made an early exit from the tournament, is studying some coaching resumes nowadays. The 21-year-old has left Melbourne Park and having a few days off at an undisclosed location, according to her management, before returning to chilly Europe.

January 23rd, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian Jelena Dokic withdrew from mixed doubles in preparation for her fourth-round clash with Russian Alisa Kleybanova in the Australian Open. Though Dokic has never played 19-year-old Kleybanova, the players are somewhat familiar, having practised together in Sydney and Brisbane before teaming up again in Melbourne last week.

January 21st, 2009 MELBOURNE - The following is the order of play on show courts Friday at the Australian Open. Rod Laver Arena: Dinara Safina, 3, Russia, vs Kaia Kanepi, Estonia Jelena Jankovic, 1, Serbia, vs Ai Sugiyama, Japan Novak Djokovic, 3, Serbia, vs Amer Delic, US Caroline Wozniacki, 11, Denmark, vs Jelena Dokic, Australia Roger Federer, 2, Switzerland, vs Marat Safin, Russia Hisense Arena: Juan Del Potro, 8, Argentina, vs Gilles Muller, Luxembourg Alize Cornet, 15, France, vs Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia Andy Roddick, 7, US, vs Fabrice Santoro, France Hisense Arena: Ana Ivanovic, 5, Serbia, vs Alisa Kleybanova, Russia Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus, vs Mardy Fish, US Margaret Court Arena: Nadia Petrova, 10, Russia, vs Galina Voskoboeva, Kazakhstan David Ferrer, 11, Spain, vs Marin Cilic, Croatia Marion Bartoli, 16, France, vs Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic Margaret Court Arena: Stanislas Wawrinka, 15, Switzerland, vs Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic

January 20th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Indian tennis player Sania Mirza lost to Nadia Petrova of Russia 3-6, 2-6 in a second round match of the Australian Open here Wednesday. Results Wednesday at the $15.5-million Australian Open.

January 19th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Andy Roddick says he's impressed with new ATP boss Adam Helfant, after meeting his fellow American at the Australian Open. 'I actually was lucky enough to have dinner with him the other night.

January 18th, 2009 BELGRADE - With three of its tennis stars battling it out at the Australian Open, Serbia will be losing its sleep to see its stars live in action. The Serbs - Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic on the women's side, and Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic in the men's draw - have been causing a media frenzy at home in the past few years, with experts analysing everything from their game to their love lives.

January 18th, 2009 MELBOURNE - American tennis legend Pete Sampras is sure that Swiss star Roger Federer will surpass his record of 14 Grand Slams. Federer is just one Grand Slam title behind Sampras's record and is outright favourite to equal that landmark in Melbourne following a ruthless display in Saturday's Kooyong Classic final.

January 16th, 2009 MELBOURNE - World No.2 Roger Federer has told officials at the AAMI Classic tennis tournament not to panic over reports that Middle Eastern money will swamp the traditional Australian Open tune-up events. 'I told them not to be concerned,' said the Swiss, who has again perfected his game at the eight-man special event at Kooyong Club, the former home of the Open until two decades ago.

January 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Defending champion Maria Sharapova Sunday withdrew from the Australian Open due to a slow return from the chronic shoulder problems which have kept her off court since last summer. The Russian's management dropped the bombshell to tournament organisers, saying she is still not ready to compete after autumn arthroscopic surgery and rehabilitation.